Clexane - information anyone?

[bb99]

Hi

I'm on clexane because I've had some problems and some successes in the past.

currently 21 wks pg (hurrah so far...)

on clexane to help, reasons for 2 previous LMCs range from possible super clotty blood for me (though NOT Hughes Syndrome) to implantation problms caused by over excited immune system, let's face it, it will always be a bit of a mystery.

Don't know much about how clexane works, other than it 'helps' implantation and also profusion (?) where the placenta does it's job of supplying all the nutrients etc that the baby needs.

I would like to know:

1. How long does it take clexane to pass out of your system (so I can take it for as long as possible as I am terrified of losing a baby at a later than already experienced stage...)

2)More information on how clexane works so I can make some informed decisions.

I confess I am rubbish with doctors, even though my consultant is REALLY lovely and I don't ask the right questions...

3)As the consultants etc really can't stop any pg of mine from going wrong because of the causes of the LMCs, do I really have to keep on going to the hosp just to have blood pressure etc done? My midwife is more than capeable, surely??

TIA.

Clexane is an anticoagulant, it thins your blood slightly, i have had it in both pregnancies after Pulmonary Embolism.

Thanks for your reply - I understand it's an anticoagulant, I just don't understand how this would help prevent another late miscarriage, or when / if I should stop taking it - I understand that if you are taking it for maternal blood clotting problems, that don't affect a pregnancy, then you can take it up to when labour starts, you just can't have an epidural within 12 hours of your last dose (not a problem as personally I hate epidurals and managed my last labour on lovely gas and air)

Just don't want to be in the position when I've got this far (lost the other 2 babies at 18 weeks) only to lose another one when the clexane stops. They're talking about only taking it up until I'm 36 weeks.

Hi bb, I'm on clexane (50mg twice a day) and 75mg aspirin due to hughes syndrome (I appreciate that you don't have this).

I've been advised that I can continue to take it until 12 hours before delivery (also that they can administer epidural, which I know you don't want, though they prefer spinal block as less chance of spinal bleeding with that).

As I understand it, the clexane reduces the likelihood of clotting in the placenta (and I believe has now been shown to improve performance of the placenta - though I heard that anecdotally and may be wrong) - therefore reducing the risk of late term miscarriage. The aspirin also helps with this.

I see a variety of consultants and found the haemotologist and aneasthetist to be very helpful and reassuring. I was concerned about stopping clexane earlier than labour due to the risk that the hughes syndrome symptoms would reappear (my hughes syndrome 'symptoms' are mini-strokes).

I tried a few online searches before posting to try to find you some more concrete info but couldn't find anything overly useful.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, best of luck :)

I had to have daily injections of Clexane with my first pregnancy due to a hole in my heart and the risk of a clot being able to travel through it to my brain.

After the birth I took aspirin for 3 or 6 months - can't remember - but also breastfed, and I wasn't aware of any effects of it being in/having left my system - only of excessive bleeding after labour (which was probably a bit more than normal but luckily fine, and not more then with my last pregnancy where no Clexane taken).

They gave me the Clexane to self-administer at home so didn't have to go in every day, with midwife/consultant appointments at intervals.
But think took it up to day of labour.

Also, my mum had my sister 6 weeks early due to a clot on the placenta which can be a risk, so I think anti-c's help safeguard against things like that.

Sorry can't be more help with your specific queries. I don't know if any of that is at all useful, but all the best anyway.

If you are on it for miscarriage risk they stop it at about 34 weeks. If you are on it for a specific reason then you continue up until delivery and start again pretty soon afterwards for 6 weeks.

Think how it works is a mystery to the layman but basically seems to keep the placenta healthy.

I was told by a private consultant to get a blood pressure monitor and check regularly from 30 weeks.

I injected Clexane (had a previous thrombosis) till 37 weeks and then was induced because of the whole 12 hour thing

Thank you all for replies - all good so far, I just don't want to stop before labour incase I get a late clot IYSWIM.

Don't think I'd cope very well with losing one so late in the day and then having to go into labour - could be the funny farm for me after that...

Got another consultant appt in November, so will ask awkward questions...

Good Luck DancingCat, hope all goes well for you too!